scholarly journals Climatic Correlates of White Pine Blister Rust Infection in Whitebark Pine in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 666 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. Thoma ◽  
Erin K. Shanahan ◽  
Kathryn M. Irvine
Keyword(s):  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem ◽  
Whitebark Pine ◽  
White Pine Blister Rust ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Rust Infection ◽  
Blister Rust ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Greater Yellowstone

Whitebark pine, a foundation species at tree line in the Western U.S. and Canada, has declined due to native mountain pine beetle epidemics, wildfire, and white pine blister rust. These declines are concerning for the multitude of ecosystem and human benefits provided by this species. An understanding of the climatic correlates associated with spread is needed to successfully manage impacts from forest pathogens. Since 2000 mountain pine beetles have killed 75% of the mature cone-bearing trees in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and 40.9% of monitored trees have been infected with white pine blister rust. We identified models of white pine blister rust infection which indicated that an August and September interaction between relative humidity and temperature are better predictors of white pine blister rust infection in whitebark pine than location and site characteristics in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The climate conditions conducive to white pine blister rust occur throughout the ecosystem, but larger trees in relatively warm and humid conditions were more likely to be infected between 2000 and 2018. We mapped the infection probability over the past two decades to identify coarse-scale patterns of climate conditions associated with white pine blister rust infection in whitebark pine.

scholarly journals Whitebark Pine Prevalence and Ecological Function in Treeline Communities of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, U.S.A.: Potential Disruption by White Pine Blister Rust

Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Wagner ◽  
Diana Tomback ◽  
Lynn Resler ◽  
Elizabeth Pansing
Keyword(s):  
Rust Resistance ◽  
Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem ◽  
Whitebark Pine ◽  
White Pine Blister Rust ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Rust Infection ◽  
Infection Incidence ◽  
Tree Island ◽  
Blister Rust ◽  
Greater Yellowstone

In the northern Rocky Mountains of the U.S. and Canada, whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.) is a functionally important species in treeline communities. The introduced fungal pathogen Cronartium ribicola, which causes white pine blister rust, has led to extensive whitebark pine mortality nearly rangewide. We examined four treeline communities within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) to assess structure and composition, whitebark pine prevalence and functional role, differences in growing season mesoclimate among study areas, and blister rust infection incidence. We found that (1) whitebark pine frequently serves as the majority overall, solitary, and leeward tree island conifer; (2) the prevalence of different tree species in the windward position in tree islands, and thus their potential as tree island initiators, may be predicted from their relative abundance as solitary trees; and (3) white pine blister rust infection incidence ranged from 0.6% to 18.0% across study areas. White pine blister rust poses a threat to treeline development and structure and the provision of ecosystem services in the GYE. Increasing blister rust resistance in nearby subalpine whitebark pine communities through seedling planting or direct seeding projects should eventually result in higher levels of blister rust resistance in whitebark pine in treeline communities.

scholarly journals Whitebark pine mortality related to white pine blister rust, mountain pine beetle outbreak, and water availability

Ecosphere ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin Shanahan ◽  
Kathryn M. Irvine ◽  
David Thoma ◽  
Siri Wilmoth ◽  
Andrew Ray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Availability ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Whitebark Pine ◽  
White Pine Blister Rust ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Blister Rust ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle

Distribution and severity of white pine blister rust and mountain pine beetle on whitebark pine in British Columbia

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 1051-1059 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M Campbell ◽  
Joseph A Antos
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
The United States ◽  
Whitebark Pine ◽  
White Pine Blister Rust ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Blister Rust ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle

A major decline in the abundance of whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.) has recently occurred in the United States, primarily as a result of white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola J.C. Fisch. ex Raben.). However, no information on the status of whitebark pine in British Columbia, Canada, was available. We sampled 54 subalpine stands in British Columbia, examining all whitebark pine trees within plots for evidence of blister rust and mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopk.) damage. About 21% of all whitebark pine stems were dead, and blister rust was the most important agent of mortality. Of all living trees sampled, 27% had obvious blister rust infection (cankers), but actual incidence was suspected of being as high as 44% (using all evidence of blister rust). Blister rust incidence and whitebark pine mortality were significantly related to differences in stand structure and the presence of Ribes spp., but relationships with local climate and site variables were absent or weak. The lack of strong relationships with climate suggests favourable conditions for the spread of the disease throughout most of British Columbia. Very little evidence of mountain pine beetle was found. Overall, the prospects for whitebark pine in British Columbia do not appear good; a large reduction in population levels seems imminent.

scholarly journals Whitebark and Foxtail Pine in Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks: Initial Assessment of Stand Structure and Condition

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan C.B. Nesmith ◽  
Micah Wright ◽  
Erik S. Jules ◽  
Shawn T. McKinney
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
National Parks ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Whitebark Pine ◽  
White Pine Blister Rust ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Blister Rust ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle ◽  
Foxtail Pine

The Inventory & Monitoring Division of the U.S. National Park Service conducts long-term monitoring to provide park managers information on the status and trends in biological and environmental attributes including white pines. White pines are foundational species in many subalpine ecosystems and are currently experiencing population declines. Here we present results on the status of whitebark and foxtail pine in the southern Sierra Nevada of California, an area understudied relative to other parts of their ranges. We selected random plot locations in Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon national parks using an equal probability spatially-balanced approach. Tree- and plot-level data were collected on forest structure, composition, demography, cone production, crown mortality, and incidence of white pine blister rust and mountain pine beetle. We measured 7899 whitebark pine, 1112 foxtail pine, and 6085 other trees from 2012–2017. All factors for both species were spatially highly variable. Whitebark pine occurred in nearly-pure krummholz stands at or near treeline and as a minor component of mixed species forests. Ovulate cones were observed on 25% of whitebark pine and 69% of foxtail pine. Whitebark pine seedlings were recorded in 58% of plots, and foxtail pine seedlings in only 21% of plots. Crown mortality (8% in whitebark, 6% in foxtail) was low and significantly higher in 2017 compared to previous years. Less than 1% of whitebark and zero foxtail pine were infected with white pine blister rust and <1% of whitebark and foxtail pine displayed symptoms of mountain pine beetle attack. High elevation white pines in the southern Sierra Nevada are healthy compared to other portions of their range where population declines are significant and well documented. However, increasing white pine blister rust and mountain pine beetle occurrence, coupled with climate change projections, portend future declines for these species, underscoring the need for broad-scale collaborative monitoring.

scholarly journals Effects of Disturbance on Tree Community Dynamics in Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.) Ecosystems

Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Amberson ◽  
Megan Keville ◽  
Cara Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Pinus Albicaulis ◽  
Whitebark Pine ◽  
White Pine Blister Rust ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Blister Rust ◽  
Tree Community ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle

Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.), an ecologically important tree species in high-elevation ecosystems of western North America, is threatened by white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola Fischer) and increased pressure from mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) due to climate warming. In addition, there is concern that fire suppression may be leading to successional replacement of whitebark by late-seral trees. Despite widespread knowledge that the tree is in decline, there is limited understanding of its successional dynamics, particularly in forests disturbed by white pine blister rust and mountain pine beetle. Our objective was to examine how disturbances have affected forest composition, structure, and seedling regeneration over a 22-year period (1990–2012) at 19 sites in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State (USA). Over that time, 13 sites (68%) were infected by white pine blister rust, 11 (58%) were disturbed by mountain pine beetle, and 5 (26%) experienced wildfire. Tree community composition changed significantly during the study period, primarily due to significant mortality of mature (≥20-cm diameter at breast height) whitebark pine. Despite loss of mature whitebark trees, we found little evidence of successional replacement by other tree species. Whitebark seedling density was unrelated to basal area of mature whitebark pine, but positively correlated with the presence of herb and shrub cover. Our results demonstrate the value of long-term repeated measurements for elucidating successional dynamics.

scholarly journals Compounding effects of white pine blister rust, mountain pine beetle, and fire threaten four white pine species

Ecosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan C. Dudney ◽  
Jonathan C. B. Nesmith ◽  
Matthew C. Cahill ◽  
Jennifer E. Cribbs ◽  
Dan M. Duriscoe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
White Pine Blister Rust ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Blister Rust ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle ◽  
Pine Species

Climate influences on whitebark pine mortality from mountain pine beetle in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 2507-2524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Polly C. Buotte ◽  
Jeffrey A. Hicke ◽  
Haiganoush K. Preisler ◽  
John T. Abatzoglou ◽  
Kenneth F. Raffa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem ◽  
Whitebark Pine ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle ◽  
Greater Yellowstone ◽  
Climate Influences

White Pine Blister Rust Severity and Selection of Individual Whitebark Pine by the Mountain Pine Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae)

2007 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana L. Six ◽  
Joel Adams
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
White Pine Blister Rust ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Blister Rust ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Rust Severity ◽  
Individual Trees

We investigated whether white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola) (J.C. Fischer in Rabenh.) severity, tree diameter at breast height (DBH), bark and phloem thickness, and sapwood moisture content influence the preference of the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) for individual trees of whitebark (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.) and lodgepole pine (P. contorta Loud.). We measured these variables at 5 sites in Montana and Idaho and found a significant relationship between blister rust severity and attack of trees by D. ponderosae, with trees exhibiting greater blister rust severity being more likely to be attacked by the beetle. Sapwood moisture content was negatively correlated (P = 0.0004) with blister rust severity indicating that as severity increases there is an increasingly negative effect on water relations within the tree. Sapwood moisture content was significantly lower in P. albicaulis than in P. contorta at sites with beetle activity suggesting that there may be an interaction between blister rust severity and drought stress that, in turn, may affect beetle preference. DBH and bark and phloem thickness did not appear to influence beetle preference for individual trees. As blister rust spreads in P. albicaulis stands across the western U.S., this may translate to increasing levels of beetle-caused mortality in these areas.

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